Editorial: Armando Galarraga deserves place in baseball's record book

Associated PressDetroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga, left, smiles as he walks away from first base umpire Jim Joyce, right, who called Cleveland Indians' Jason Donald safe at first base in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Galarraga lost his bid for a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning on the disputed call at first base. Detroit won 3-0. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The kids on the sandlot would say it, and we’ll say it, too – Jason Donald was out by a mile!
And so we urge Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to swiftly reverse umpire Jim Joyce’s bad ninth-inning call that destroyed Detroit Tiger Armando Galarraga’s perfect no-hit game against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.
To do so would mean that Galarraga would earn his rightful spot in the record books. Baseball fans would be treated to something truly extraordinary – three perfect games in a season that is not even half over. And poor Jim Joyce, who is taking more flak than a roomful of BP executives, would be able to get a good night’s sleep.
For a sport where being an umpire means never having to say you’re sorry, a distraught Joyce, by all accounts a fine umpire, manned up to the error after the game and apologized in person to Galarraga.
“You don’t see an umpire after the game come out and say, ‘Hey, let me tell you I’m sorry,’” Galarraga said. “He felt really bad. He didn’t even shower.”
Some baseball fans will argue the call should stand. Baseball is a game that’s played, coached and officiated by humans who are all prone to make errors. Galarraga was simply a victim of tough luck, and that’s baseball.
But numerous videos show that Donald was at least a step-and-a-half behind Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera’s throw to Galarraga – who was covering first base with his foot firmly planted on the bag.
Furthermore, the game ended with the next batter, which meant the Indians did not capitalize on the error and keep the game moving.
To deny Galarraga a perfect game, one of baseball’s greatest – and rarest – achievements, would be a spitball in the face of sporting justice.
Bud Seelig has the power to change this and he should, but reports yesterday indicate he may let the call stand.
Whatever the final decision, we’ll give the last word to Tiger shortstop Ramon Santiago. “I know I played in a perfect game,” Santiago said. “In my mind, on June 2, Armando Galarraga threw a no-hitter. I’m going to get a ball signed by him.”